PEOPLE – THE LEADERS OF TOMORROW – AMERICA'S BRIGHTEST ANNUAL EDITION
PEOPLE – THE LEADERS OF TOMORROW – AMERICA'S BRIGHTEST ANNUAL EDITION
Five years ago, these two bright stars were introduced to the world and now at age eighteen, the Stark twins are making a name for themselves in the world.
Emma Stark received her MBA from Harvard in International Business at seventeen and is now working for the International Affairs division of Stark Industries under her father. Even as a junior executive, she strikes fear in the hardened business men of Wall Street. Her passport has more stamps in it than a post office and she has already been around the world twice. At only eighteen, she has been named as one of the top forty under forty. Take away her six figure salary and she is not much different from other girls her age. She can be found tanning on the California beaches or shopping on Rodeo Drive. No boyfriends to speak of so eligible bachelors pay attention. "Trying to date me is like running a gauntlet at a UN summit," Emma says. "If I guy can get past the first step, me being the daughter of Iron Man, he has a fair shot. Most of them end up wetting themselves before they get that far."
Under the article is a picture of Emma in her office at Stark Industries. A beautiful brunette with dark eyes and long legs propped up on her desk with three and a half inch stilettos on her feet. Her black pencil skirt goes to just about her knees as the deep purple blouse she is wearing has just enough buttons undone to create a stir but not be indecent and she has a set of keys spinning on her finger – the keys to the kingdom.
Captain James Stark, USAF, received his Masters in Mechanical and Electrical Engineering from MIT also at seventeen, like his famous father. If he had not joined the Air Force in preparation for entering the Astronaut program at NASA, he probably would have been playing professional baseball with the New York Yankees. When Stark enters NASA, he will be the youngest ever admitted. Dividing his time between California and Florida, there are rumors of girlfriends on both coasts but he will totally deny it saying he doesn't have time. When he is not flying fighter jets or in training, you can see James flying down the coasts on either his motorcycle or his Dodge Viper or on a baseball diamond some place. When he was asked where his goals stop, James replied, "I reach for the stars and I always have. Maybe when I can bring one back, I'll slow down."
Under the article is the picture of James at Edwards Air Force base wearing a leather bomber jacket over his air force t-shirt and straddling his motorcycle. If someone looked quickly at the photo, they would have sworn up and down that it was Tony at eighteen and not James.
Deep in the depths of the Stark mansion, Tony was up to his elbows in metal and wires, the metal and wires that were to eventually turn into the Mark armor he had promised his son. The basic design had been saved to the servers already and now it needed to be tweaked. The propulsion system had to be amped up. The suit had to be airtight but still maneuverable in flight as well as resistant to the heat of reentry if necessary. The weapon systems had to be quicker to get off though more concealed.
Tony was working on the ignition system of the boots, trying to increase output without increasing mass, when Emma crept down into the garage. She slipped in silently and sat on the couch watching her father work. She had been there for more than ten minutes before Tony even noticed her. It probably would have been longer if she hadn't started coughing when a sip of water went down the wrong pipe.
Tony damn near fell off the chair he was sitting in when he heard Emma. "You could have told me you were here. I think you need to leave your heels on like your mother so I know you're coming."
"If you think I am staying in stilettos twenty-four seven you have another thing coming, Daddy." Emma spat. "At times, they are worse than point shoes. Flip flops are so much easier."
"Easier to give me a heart attack," Tony said with a laugh as he went back to work. "Something you need or are you just here to watch?"
Emma got up from the couch and walked over to the worktable, leaning down and resting on her elbows as she watched. "If Jamie gets the suit, what do I get?"
"What do you mean about what do you get?" Tony asked without looking up.
"When one kid gets something, the other deserves something as its equal or it's unfair." Emma stated.
"So what do you want that would be equal to this?" Tony asked, wondering if Emma already had something in mind.
Emma slipped a piece of paper across the table towards her father. It had one picture on it that she had printed off the internet. "That."
Tony picked up the sheet of paper and examined it. He definitely recognized the technology. "You want the OSCORP glider?" he asked.
"With a Stark twist." Emma added with a smile.
Tony nodded with understanding when she mentioned a Stark twist. He looked over the picture again. "I can do this. I'll have to get the original designs from OSCORP but that shouldn't be a problem. I'll buy them if necessary and I know they won't turn that down." He said aloud but it was more to himself but then he looked up at Emma. "This thing could tear you to ribbons. How are you going to protect yourself?'
"I guess I would need some sort of armor then. It would need to be flexible though."
"Kevlar would be the easiest to make a flexible armor out of but it would not be completely invulnerable. You will need a few other things as well. Have your mother place a call to what is left of OSCORP and have them get back to me. As soon as that happens and I finish Jamie's before he heads to Florida on a more permanent basis, I'll build your glider." Tony stated as he gave Emma a hug before she headed back upstairs.
Tony threw back two more energy drinks before delving back into the armor he was making for his son full force. He had gone without sleep enough before, what was different now?
Two weeks later, just before Tony put all the final specs into Jarvis for final assembly, he emailed his son in Florida.
From: IronDevil44
To: BlackPrince327
Subject: Colors?
It's almost done. Got a color scheme in mind?
Dad
The response back was almost instantaneous. The boy spent more time on the computer than Tony did.
To: BlackPrince327
From: IronDevil44
RE: colors?
Totally. I have had these in mind for a while. Black and Indigo Blue – like my Viper. Can't wait for my test flight.
Jamie
Tony plugged the final specs into Jarvis and let his A.I finish the final touches while he crashed on the couch for a long deserved rest.
As soon as James read the email, he packed his things quickly, checked that he had all necessary supplies for a cross country trip – gas, snacks, caffeine, music, sunglasses, threw the bag in the back of his Dodge Viper and hit the gas.
He loved driving through the South since the speed limits were always higher than in the north with the more open spaces. James was easily doing eighty or better through Florida and Mississippi. He had to actually do only sixty-five through Louisiana thanks to the unfortunate speeding ticket from a cop who only looked too pleased to give it to an eighteen year old with a California license and a Dodge Viper. Once he hit Texas, it was full blast. With the bass pumping from his stereo and hit sunglasses blocking the sharp glare from the Southern sun, James hit the gas and he was flying through Texas, New Mexico and Arizona, even cracking 100 on occasion but mainly sticking to the eighties. James was determined to make it to California in three days or less. He was driving twelve to fourteen hours at a time but any more than that he started falling asleep at the wheel. It was late on the third day, around seven in the evening when he saw the sign welcoming him to Malibu. He had been driving for thirteen hours and really wanted a real dinner for once and a nap but all of that would have to wait until he got to try out his suit.
James walked into a quiet and empty house and got a little nervous. He pulled out his 9mm sidearm, standard issue for military officers, just in case. "Jarvis? Where the hell is everyone?"
"Mrs. Stark and Miss Emma have not yet returned from work and Mr. Stark is…"
"Jamie! What took you so long?" Tony called out as he ascended from the garage.
Startled, James spun around with the gun pointed right at the voice he heard.
"Put that away. I have had bullets fly at my head too many times already." Tony scolded his son.
"Sorry Dad," James said as he put his gun away. "I didn't hear you come up. Jarvis was just about to tell me where you were."
"What took you so long? I expected you here yesterday with the way you drive." Tony asked.
"A nice little note from an officer of the law in Louisiana," James said with a laugh as he pulled out the ticket.
"Didn't I tell you not to get nailed like that?" Tony said as he looked at the ticket. "It's only fifteen over the limit. The cop couldn't let you off with a damn warning."
"Not when you have a California license and a Viper in the deep South. I was lucky he didn't try to put me in jail." James countered. "Now, where is my suit?"
"You're getting demanding now aren't you?" Tony sighed as he walked back down to the garage with James.
"Comes with being in charge." James called from behind his father. "You should remember that."
"I was always demanding." Tony laughed as he punched in a few commands on the computer. The floor split and up raised an Iron Man suit in blue and black.
"Now, that is what I am talking about." James said appreciatively as he examined it. "Can I fly it now?"
Tony nodded. "As soon as you're ready."
James bolted to get changed. He came back a few minutes later in the neoprene under suit that Tony had designed.
"This thing feels like a wet suit." James commented.
"It's lighter than a wet suit but trust me, you'll appreciate it as insulation." Tony said. "Step up in the center there and Jarvis will do the rest."
James stepped up as the adrenaline already started coursing through his body.
"Hit him, Jarvis."
"As you wish sir." The robots went into work suiting James up. Within minutes, James Stark became what he called the Iron Knight.
"Time to see how this baby flies." James said as he snapped the helmet down and powered up, soaring out of the garage and up into the night sky. He tested acceleration, maneuverability and every feature he could. "Dad, this rocks even more than the time I took yours out for a spin." James called out as he rocketed out even faster.
"You did what?!" Tony ground out, a little surprised.
"Nothing Dad."
"How many times, James?"
"It was nothing, Dad. Slip of the tongue."
"How many times?"
"Seriously…"
"James Anthony Stark…"
"Okay…maybe five…no…seven…it was definitely less than ten."
Tony couldn't believe he was hearing this. "When the hell did you do this?" he ground out as he gave Jarvis the signal to suit him up.
"Two years ago. You and Mom were in Hawaii if I remember right."
"You are going to pay for that one, kid." Tony said as he shot up from the garage.
James turned his head to see his father quickly catching up to him. "I see what this is, Dad. A little threatened are we?"
"You forget, Jamie. I can deactivate you with one command." Tony said as he caught up to his son and was now off his right side. "You want to rethink what you just said?"
"I said we should bring Uncle Rhodey along for this as well." James smartly corrected, not exactly liking the idea of falling thousands of feet without stopping.
"I think that is a wise idea." Tony said as he asked Jarvis to call Rhodey.
Rhodey cautiously picked up his cell phone when he heard Tony's ring tone. What did he get into now?
"How's it going Tony?"
"Up for a little joy ride?"
"What sort of joy ride?"
"One of your subordinates here wants to test out his new toy against War Machine."
"Tony…you didn't…" Rhodey paused for a second to pull on his mantle of authority. "Captain Stark?"
"Yes sir?" James answered dutifully.
"Am I correct to assume that you want to challenge War Machine?"
"Yes sir, General Rhodes. The Iron Knight is out to play and what better test than to put it against the best – Iron Man and War Machine."
"You do realize that I am off duty, right Jamie?" Rhodey said, giving James the silent cue that he can drop the military formalities.
"Yes Rhodey but the Stark boys want to play and we always need supervision." James said.
"You know Pepper put you in charge of keeping us out of trouble." Tony chimed in.
"Yes I know. It gives her less of a coronary and adds it on to me." Rhodey sighed. "How long do I have?"
"We'll be passing back over your house in ten. We expect you up here, sour patch." Tony teased.
"Just for that, I am helping your son to kick your ass."
"I'd like to see you try since I am essentially a god when it comes to these suits."
"You have five minutes Tony and I am coming to get you." Rhodey said before he hung up.
"Smooth move Dad. My money is unfortunately on Uncle Rhodey kicking your tail to San Francisco and back."
"That sounds like a challenge to me." Tony laughed. "Quickest up and down the coast, did you hear me Rhodey?"
A silver flash soon joined up making the duo a trio. "I heard you. Up and down the coast. First one back to Stark mansion from the south wins."
"Shall we make it more interesting?" James interjected.
"He is most definitely your kid." Rhodey said dryly. "How much, Jamie?"
"I believe Dad told me the standard for you two was fifty bucks. How about that plus the loser has to acquire dinner?"
"I'll go for that." Tony said. "You're not betting with my money right?"
"No Dad. I am using my paycheck, not my allowance."
"Terms are agreed upon, gentlemen. See you at the mansion." Rhodey said as he took off.
"That's not fair." James cried out as he turned on the gas and quickly caught up.
"I think I may have to slow the both of you down." Tony spat as he joined up again with the trio.
The three titans maintained a pretty even match until the final miles and landing. James touched down in the garage first with Tony and Rhodey landing at the same time just seconds after. James took off his helmet and had a big smile on his face as he held out his hand. "I believe I am owed one Ben Franklin." He said as he heard a small crash come from upstairs. "Jarvis, is the house under attack?"
"No, Master James. That would be Miss Emma returning home from a bad day." Jarvis replied.
"Dad, is she always like this?"
Tony nodded and cringed as he heard another bang. The first crash was probably her bag being thrown. The bang sounded like her bedroom door. "Yes, especially since some halfwit in Human Resources hired a no-brained Yalie to work under her. That is what she calls him." Tony explained. "Apparently, someone over looked that he did not like working under a woman, especially one who was younger than him. He tried to hit on Emma once to show how much he though of her and she showed him what she thought of him."
"What did she do?" Rhodey cautiously asked.
"Let's just say he was signing soprano and pissing blood for about a week." Tony said as all three men cringed. "His letter of dismissal is sitting on my desk, ready to be submitted if he tries anything that stupid again. My guess is that he has."
Tony quickly shut up as he saw Emma running down to the garage in jeans and a black t-shirt with her leather jacket on and her helmet in her hand.
Emma took one look at her father, brother and 'uncle' and rolled her eyes as she pulled her super sport racing bike, an amethyst colored Honda, out of the line of cars. She walked it to the ramp leading out of the garage before putting her helmet on.
"Let's see if you three can keep up." Emma challenged as she flipped the visor down on her helmet and took off.
"Sounds like a challenge to me," James said as he slammed his helmet down and followed after his sister.
"And it will take both of us to keep both of them out of trouble," Tony added. "Especially when Emma goes off."
"You mean she's like you." Rhodey said as he slammed his helmet back on.
"More than you know…" Tony added before taking off with Rhodey right behind him.